The Annual Water Carnival Weekend sponsored by the Lake Boon Association will be held from Friday evening, August 28^th to Sunday afternoon, August 30^th. Activities are held at the Town Beach/Pine Bluffs Recreation Area off Sudbury Road in Stow. All events are open and free of charge to Stow and Hudson residents. The Association offers these events in appreciation for the many friends who support the organization’s environmental, educational and civic programs during the year.

The Lake Boon Water Carnival is a tradition dating back over 100 years, shortly after Lake Boon became a summer destination forBoston area vacationers. It is old fashioned summer entertainment for all ages, carrying on many events similar to those held at the end of the summer season in the early 1900s.

Water Carnival Weekend Activities include:

Friday Night 8/28, 7-8:30pm – Music at the Town Beach

The local group Moonshine Alley will be playing bluegrass for people at the Stow Town Beach, with some folk, country and blues tunes as well. Come out and enjoy the beautiful sunset view from the beach accompanied by fun, upbeat music and perhaps a roasted marshmallow or two while waiting for the music boat.

7:30-11pm – Music Boat & Lighting of the Lake

The music boat will begin in the second (southern) basin before dark at7:30 pm, going around counter-clockwise and then into the first (northern) basin about 9:30 going counterclockwise. All are invited to sit by the shore or go out in a boat, canoe or kayak (all must have lights) as the Lake Boon music boat passes by, featuring the band,Itchy Onion. The music boat may be viewed at the Stow Town Beach/Pine Bluffs Recreation Area about 9:45.

Lake residents are encouraged to participate in “lighting of the lake” with small lights or luminaries (but not bright flood lights please) along the shoreline. In case of bad weather the music boat may be postponed to Saturday night. For info, call 978.562.2203 after 6 p.m.for a recorded message.

The music boat is sponsored in part by grants from the Cultural Councils of Stow and Hudson which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Saturday 8/29, Water Carnival Beach Day:

Stow Town Beach/Pine Bluffs Recreation Area

9:30 – Canoe races
11:00 – Field races
11:30 – 1:00 – Lunch
12:30 – Children’s entertainment
1:30 – Swimming races
2:30 – Beach games

Prizes are awarded for many of the races. There will be face painting, balloon toss, pie eating contest, and much more. Bring a picnic or purchase a grilled lunch prepared by the Lake Boon Association. A variety of LBA T-shirts, beach bags and hats will also be available for purchase.

Sunday 8/30, 2:15 – 4:00 Annual Decorated Boat Parade:
Boaters decorate their motor boats, kayaks or canoes with a theme of their choosing and compete for bragging rights and trophies as they tour the lake sharing their creativity and humor with those on shore. Entrants in the boat parade will receive a local pizza restaurant gift certificate and are invited to the party in the narrows after the parade. Shore parties are also in competition for their own award. The parade begins at the First Basin Narrows Buoy at 2:15 pm, and continues counter-clockwise around the first (north) basin and then to the second (south) basin. Off-lake residents can view the boat parade at the Stow Town Beach about 2:30.

Admission to the beach, both Saturday and Sunday, is free and this is a great opportunity to see the many improvements being made there by the Stow Recreation Commission. We want to thank our past supporters including Main Street Pizza, PaPa Gino’s of Hudson and Stow, Honey Pot Hill Orchard, Stow House of Pizza, Brothers Pizza, CJ’s of Hudson and Sudbury and the Lake Boone Ice Company.